ST. LOUIS – Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch IV announced that the brewer has halted the sale of its Spykes malt-based beverage. Busch made the announcement during a panel discussion at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association annual conference in La Quinta, California.

“Due to its limited volume potential and unfounded criticism, we have ceased production of Spykes,” Michael J. Owens, Anheuser-Busch marketing vice president, said in a statement. Introduced two years ago in test markets and nationwide in January, Spkyes had not performed to expectations.

Owens rejected criticism that the beverage was targeted toward underage drinkers, saying that Spykes was the lowest-alcohol content product in its market segment.